2018 McLaren 720S

Mar 15

Written By Katelyn McSherry

Lights: Quad-LED Projectors in ‘Eye Sockets’ with Oil Coolers

The 720S was revealed at a VIP launch party at McLaren headquarters in Woking, England, unveiled in a dimly lit area for the guests before an official announcement was made to the rest of the world. Guests with cell phones took images of the 720S as it was released, and due to the inadequate lighting, shots were not flattering. That night, those images were leaked to the internet, and suddenly, the world knew about the 720S. Immediate reactions from auto enthusiasts upon seeing the leaked cell phone photos were far from positive, and much of the criticism focused on the headlights.

McLaren has produced a quirky but unbelievably functional method of incorporating the headlights and front intakes into one neat package, known as the ‘eye socket.’ A strip of LEDs comprise the headlight, but the rest of the ‘socket’ is left open for air to reach heat exchangers lurking behind to cool the engine and drivetrain. The lights are housed within an upright lens (most cars use a curved lens), which enhances the quality of the light produced by the LEDs, asthe light has to pass through the minimum amount of glass to create a virtually undisturbed beam onto the road surface.

McLaren re-entered the road car market in 2010, quickly becoming one of the most renowned supercar manufacturers in the world. The 720S was released following the great success of the 900 horsepower McLaren P1, and with about 200 less horsepower, the 720S lapped many tracks faster than McLaren’s former halo car upon its release.

McLaren launched its three-tier product structure in 2015, introducing a new naming strategy that included range names (Sports, Super and Ultimate Series) and derivatives (LT, S and C). The LT badge stands for Long Tail, with the S standing for Sport and the C for Club.

McLaren released their latest car in the Super Series lineup, the 720S, at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show. Powered by a twin turbo V8, its 710-bhp and 568 ft-lbs of torque propels the car from 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds, up to 124 mph in 7.8 seconds, onto a top speed of 212 mph.

The McLaren 720S features twin-hinged dihedral doors and many design features from the McLaren F1. The doors feature air channels that direct air to the engine. The design was inspired by the great white shark, and features a teardrop-shaped cockpit.